Inter Milan move closer to Champions League amid Antonio Conte rumors

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Inter Milan moved back into third place amid speculation suggesting Antonio Conte is set to replace Luciano Spalletti at the helm next season

Goals from Matteo Politano and Ivan Perisic gave them a 2-0 home win over relegated Chievo, who finished with 10 men, on Monday.

With two matches to play, Inter have 66 points, one ahead of Atalanta, with AC Milan and AS Roma a further three points back, in the race for a top-four finish and a Champions League place.

Politano broke the deadlock six minutes before halftime with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area which went in off the post.

The visitors, bottom of the table with only two wins all season, battled on bravely but were in more trouble when Nicola Rigoni was sent off for a second booking in the 76th minute.

Inter finally sealed the game when Perisic, who had earlier hit the post, turned in the rebound after a Cedric Soares shot struck the woodwork again.

An Italian media outlet claims Antonio Conte has agreed to a three-year contract to take over at Inter next season. /VCG Photo

Conte close to return

The morale-boosting win might be a piece of good news for Antonio Conte, who seems destined for Inter if the coach returns to Italian soccer.

Italian newspapers have reported Conte has already agreed on a three-year contract with the Nerazzurri to replace current coach Luciano Spalletti at the end of the season.

Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta did not deny the reports when asked about them on Monday.

"We have to bear this discussion and that's not easy because it's annoying,” said Marotta, who brought in Conte as coach at Juventus. “But Spalletti's work has to be recognized."

Conte has been out of a job since June 2018 when he was fired from Chelsea, and the former Juventus and Italy coach is seen as the perfect man to rejuvenate the squad.

"I can't understand the criticism that has come of late," Marotta added. "We have an objective to achieve and we are aware of it, what matters is our position in the table."

"Everything else is an irritation and we have to be alert so that we can deal with these disturbances in the best of ways."

Source(s): AP ,Reuters